Non Scene
The disappearance of Sydney's venues hasn't stopped the advent of the Non Scene party
Tobin Saunders is on a queer scene expedition. The artist behind
drag's loudest mouth, Vanessa Wagner, Saunders has been unearthing
alternative nights for queers and the folks who dig them for over 20
years. With his popular Jamie and Vanessa parties which reigned supreme
in the early 90s, Saunders forced the queer scene off Oxford Street and
into the unmarked territories of Sydney's daggiest bowling clubs,
baptising them as the hip place to party. "We basically christened
these venues which were never used for parties before," Saunders says.
"The problem is that over time these venues started disappearing. The
city bowling club is now the Cook & Phillip Pool, Victoria Park
Bowling club is now a car park and even the Phoenician Club has become
apartments."
This form of venue genocide has resulted in a
decline in the alternative queer party scene. Never one to sit on his
laurels, Saunders has mustered up his DJ family, consisting of
long-time spin pals Steven Alkins and Ben Drayton, to bring Sydney
their alternative party, Non Scene. "We liked the play on words with
the whole personal ads space," says Saunders.
The party,
which launches this Saturday, takes place at the Loft at the University
Of Technology, Broadway. "The space at UTS has a wooden dance floor, a
great outdoor seating area under a tree, an upstairs chill-out space
and best of all, it's intimate," says Saunders. Between slide
projections and kooky decorations, Suanders, Alkins and Drayton want to
create an alternative vibe, which will compliment their very diverse
range of music. Drayton has been spinning the very musical fabric of
bent Sydney for two decades, playing at Mardi Gras through to Lismore's
Tropical Fruits party and just about everything underground in between.
His comrade Stephen Alkins spun his first paid gig at Palms in 1978.
Since then Alkins has honoured nine Mardi Gras and Sleaze events with
his incredible sets, playing alongside international greats such as
Frankie Knuckles, David Morales and Fat Boy Slim, as well as working in
music production as the artist Love Tattoo. The man behind the tatt
(which gave us such tracks as ‘Drop Some Drums' and ‘Put Your Body In
It') is excited to join Drayton and Saunders in bringing midnight
sauciness and Vaudeville madness to Non Scene.
Non Scene, Sat 26
April, The Loft, UTS, 15 Broadway, Sydney 2000. Tickets from So Music
Newtown $25+ bf or $30 ($25 con) at the door.